Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

Once again Fine Gael and Labour are doing exactly the opposite of what they argued for during the many years they were in opposition - the arbitrary guillotining of crucial legislative measures. The Finance Bill enshrines all the disastrous austerity provided for in the budget of a few months ago - slashing services and attacking living standards with detrimental effects in general on our society - in order to bail out the bondholders and speculators. At the same time it introduces new elements such as bribes for bounty hunters who are supposed to come here with no obligation to create jobs but under the pretence they will. With a wage of up to €500,000 a year they can get massive tax breaks compared with our people on top of whom new taxes have been imposed. We need time for a proper debate to allow every Deputy who wants to contribute, which has not been the case so far.

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